Artists to get financial training

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. State Council on the Arts and The Rhode Island Foundation have announced a collaborative “Assets for Artists” financial training and micro-financial opportunity program in partnership with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the International Institute of New England and other partners.

Assets for Artist is a program for low-income, entrepreneurial artists that provides financial and business training along with grant funds to match participant savings up to $2,000 for working capital investments.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Rhode Island Foundation to bring MassMOCA’s Assets for Artists program to Rhode Island,” said Randall Rosenbaum, R.I. State Council on the Arts executive director, in a statement. “We know that investments in Rhode Island’s creative businesses can have a dynamic impact on our state’s economy. The program will allow us to demonstrate that impact in a very direct way.”

The deadline for Rhode Island artists to apply for the program is March 22.

Those selected will take part in a “boot camp” on finance for artists with Esther Robinson of ArtHome, a nonprofit arts support organization based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Participants then will be enrolled in the International Institute of New England’s “Bridges to Business” program that provides artist-focused business planning and one-on-one technical assistance.

Bridges to Business is a U.S. Small Business Administration-funded program that provides small business assistance to low-income entrepreneurs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

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